Niger's transitional government on Saturday announced the launch of a food distribution operation for nearly 1.5 million people facing severe shortages.
"This distribution of supplies complements other operations which are already under way and involves coming to the aid of a population estimated to be a little under 1.5 million people," said spokesman Mahamadou Dan Dah.
According to the United Nations around 7.8 million Nigeriens — more than half the population — are in need of food, out of the around 10 million affected by the crisis in the Sahel region.
The search for food has sent thousands flocking into Maradi, the main city in south-central Niger, a vast arid country on the southern rim of the Sahara desert that has become the epicentre of the crisis.
Share This Article With Planet Earth
